Exercise Assisting Tool

ABSTRACT

An inexpensive exercise assisting tool of a simple structure comprising a base portion ( 1 ), a rotatable supporting rod ( 2 ) which is telescopic in the axial direction and can be fixed at an arbitrary position, and a coupling member ( 3 ) consisting of a resilient member for urging one end of the supporting rod ( 2 ) in the direction perpendicular to the base portion. The exercise assisting is suitable for users individually performing such exercise and physical training as stretching and twisting of their bodies easily and in a stable state. When the exercise assisting tool is used in a group of users, risk of contact between them is low. The exercise assisting tool can be stored in a limited space when it is not used, and thereby it is especially suitable as an exercise assisting tool being used in a group in school or in a keep-fit class.

FIELD OF THE INTERVENTION

The present invention relates to a tool that assists a user to easily perform such exercise as involving stretching and twisting of the body thereof.

BACKGROUND OF INTERVENTION

Various exercise assisting tools are invented and are commercially available. Unfortunately, such exercise assisting tools, however, have complicated structure, are large in size, or expensive. The present invention is conceived to provide an exercise assisting tool that has simple structure and is inexpensive by contemplating that an exercise assisting tool may be provided by improving a cleaning tool such as a dust mop.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Description of the Related Art

Unfortunately, persons tend to perform such exercise and physical training as stretching and twisting of the body in self-taught style and to get out of balance, which leads to an accident such as fall.

Commercially available exercising tools that are larger in size and fixed are more expensive and require more space. On the other hand, exercising tools that are smaller in size are used individually by users. Therefore, when such exercising tools are used by a group of users, there is risk of contact between them, which may lead to an accident.

In view of the foregoing problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an exercise assisting tool that has simple structure and is inexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the problems, a first means for solving the problems consists of a base portion, a supporting rod that is telescopic in the axial direction and is rotatable, and a coupling member consisting of a resilient member for urging one end of the supporting rod in the direction perpendicular to the base portion.

A second means for solving the problems is provided with a function by which the supporting rod can be telescopic, rotatable, and fixed at an arbitrary position.

A third means for solving the problems includes a base portion, a coupling member that is made from resilient material and is tubular or cylindrical, a first supporting rod that is pipe shaped and of which one end is mounted on the base portion via the coupling member, a second supporting rod that can be slide into and rotatably inserted into the other end of the first supporting rod, a fixing device that can fix the second supporting rod at an arbitrary position of the first supporting rod and can release the second supporting rod therefrom, and a gripping portion provided on the upper end of the second supporting rod, having an area suitable for putting a palm of the user thereon and a plurality of protrusions provided on the peripheral edge thereof so that a plurality of fingers of the user can be placed there between.

A fourth means for solving the problems is configured so that the coupling member can be attached to or removed from the base portion and the supporting rods with a securing unit.

A fifth means for solving the problems is configured so that the coupling member includes combination of a resilient member and a member that can deform the resilient member and exert resisting force.

PRACTICAL EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to the first means for solving the problems, the supporting rod is telescopic in the axial direction and rotatable with respect to the base portion, and force by which the coupling member urges the supporting rod in the vertical direction is not so strong. Therefore, the main function of the exercise assisting tool is not to support the body of the user. Rather, the main function thereof is to assist the user to recognize the position of the body thereof with respect to the base portion by visual and touching perception of the angle and the position of the supporting rod of the exercise assisting tool with respect to the base portion. Due to the function, the user can perform such exercise such as stretching and twisting of the body thereof easily keeping balance in a stable state. The user can also easily recognize the difference between the movements of the user and of an instructor, and thus, the user can easily learn how to move the body thereof in a standard manner.

Then, the user performs such exercise around the base portion, and the body of the user naturally returns back to the original position where the exercise is started. Therefore, the body of the user moves in balance in right-left or back-forth movement. As a result, individual users perform such exercise within their area thereof, thereby reducing risk of contact between them when they perform such exercise in a group.

According to the second means for solving the problems, the length of the supporting rod can be adjusted so as to be suitable for the height of the user, with a function by which the supporting rod can be fixed at an arbitrary length. As a result, the user can support the body thereof by gripping the supporting rod at an appropriate position. If the fixing function is loosened, load applied to the coupling member can be reduced. Therefore, life of the coupling member can be extended.

According to the third means for solving the problems, when the base portion is placed on a floor, the supporting rod automatically stands vertically. Therefore, the user can support the body thereof by gripping the gripping portion or the supporting rod at an appropriate position, with the function by which the supporting rod can be fixed at an arbitrary length. The user can perform such exercise as stretching and twisting of the body thereof easily keeping balance in a stable state. If the fixing function is loosened, the user can not only perform physical training that involves action of expanding and contracting of the supporting rod in telescopic motion, but also the load applied to the coupling member can be reduced, thereby extending life thereof.

According to the fourth means for solving the problems, the coupling member can be replaced, and thus, easily be maintained.

According to the fifth means for solving the problems, structure of the coupling member can be simplified by getting rid of any mechanical moving parts and thus, the coupling member can have less failure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of an exercise assisting tool according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c are diagrams of an example of how to use the exercise assisting tool according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are a front view and a side view of another embodiment of an exercise assisting tool according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining configuration of a coupling member between a base portion and a supporting rod of another embodiment of an exercise assisting tool according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of still another embodiment of an exercise assisting tool according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an embodiment of a coupling member between the supporting rod and the base portion;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an embodiment of a mechanism by which two telescopic supporting rods can be fixed to each other;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an embodiment of a gripping portion;

FIG. 9 a is a diagram of a fixing means that prevents a fixing device from moving.

FIG. 9 b is a diagram for illustrating how the fixing means is used; and

FIGS. 10 a, 10 b and 10 c are a diagram of still another embodiment of an exercise assisting tool according to the present invention, a diagram of an embodiment of a small piece of the embodiment and a diagram of an embodiment of a gripping portion of the embodiment.

EXPLANATIONS OF LETTERS OR NUMERALS

-   -   1 base portion     -   2 supporting rod     -   3 coupling member     -   4 protrusion     -   1 b spherical shaped concave portion included in a universal         joint mechanism     -   2 a spherical portion included in the universal joint mechanism     -   5 gripping portion

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of an exercise assisting tool according to the present invention. The exercise assisting tool is configured so that an end of a supporting rod 2 that is telescopic and can be fixed at an arbitrary length is mounted via a coupling member 3 on the upper surface of a base portion 1, that's bottom 1 a contacts a floor closely or with strong fictional force, and the supporting rod 2 sways around the coupling member 3.

In the present embodiment, the coupling member 3 is configured as a universal joint mechanism in which a spherical portion 2 a formed at the lower end of the supporting rod 2 is fit into a spherical shaped concave portion 1 b formed at the base portion 1.

A protrusion 4 that is made from resilient material and mounted vertically on the base portion 1 is engaged with the central portion of the spherical portion 2 a, and thus, the protrusion 4 always urges the supporting rod 2 to stand vertically with respect to the base portion 1. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 4 is so configured that the protrusion 4 and the base portion 1 are integrally formed. The same effect can also be, however, obtained by fixing a resilient material such as a coil spring to the base portion 1.

The supporting rod 2 consists of two parts 2 b and 2 c. The part 2 b that is on the side of the base portion serves as a pipe into which the other part 2 c is inserted, so that the supporting rod 2 can be telescopic and fixed at an arbitrary length by a fastening device 5. A gripping portion 6 is provided on the upper end of the supporting rod 2.

In the present embodiment, a fastening device 5 can be loosened to expand or contract the supporting rod 2 so that the gripping portion 6 is adjusted to be situated at a position where the user can easily grip the gripping portion 6. Thus, the length of the supporting rod 2 can be adjusted and fixed at an arbitrary length with the fastening device 5.

When the length of the supporting rod 2 is thus adjusted, the user can grip on to the gripping portion 6 formed on the upper end of the supporting rod 2 and stretch the body thereof around the lower end of the supporting rod 2 as shown in FIG. 2 a or can twist the body thereof as shown in FIG. 2 a. Then, the spherical portion 2 a included in the coupling member 3 situated at the lower end of the supporting rod 2 rotates within the concave portion 1 b against the resiliency of the protrusion 4, and the gripping portion 6 moves in circular motion. As a result, the user can safely perform twisting exercise without disruption of balance.

When the exercise is finished and the user releases the hand thereof from the gripping portion 6, the protrusion 4 returns back to the upright position. Therefore, the spherical portion 2 a also returns back to the original position, and the supporting rod 2 stands vertically.

In afore-mentioned embodiment, the coupling member 3 consists of the spherical portion and the spherical concave portion. As shown in FIG. 3, however, two rotating shafts 40 and 41 that cross horizontally and are vertically positioned to each other may be provided on the base portion 1. Then, the supporting rod 2 can also be rotatably fixed to the base portion 1.

In afore-mentioned embodiment, a universal joint mechanism is employed in the coupling member 3 that rotatably supports the supporting rod 2. As shown in FIG. 4, however, the base portion 1 may be made from resilient material such as rubber, an accordion shaped protruded portion 1 c may be formed on the base portion 1 at the position on which the supporting rod 2 is mounted, and the lower end of the supporting rod 2 may be fixed in a concave portion 1 d formed in the protruded portion 1 c. Thus, the supporting rod 2 can also be rotatably fixed to the base portion 1, due to resilient deformation of the protruded portion 1 c.

The protruded portion 1 c may preferably be made from viscoelastic material such as mixture of rubber and lead particles. Then, the supporting rod 2 is rotatable due to resiliency, as well as abrupt repulsive force can be reduced due to viscosity.

Another embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 5. In the present embodiment, the supporting rod 2 is configured so as to include two parts therein. A part 2 b consists of a pipe, and is mounted on the base portion 1 via the coupling member 3 that is cylindrical or stick shaped and is resilient and viscous to some extent like rubber. The other part 2 c is slidably inserted into the part 2 b.

A bolt 32 and a nut 33 that are made from hard material like metal may be formed respectively on the upper and lower ends of a rubber portion 31 that is included in the coupling member 3 as shown in FIG. 6, and a nut 34 and a bolt 35 may be provided on the supporting rod 2 b and the base portion 1 opposing the upper and lower ends of the rubber portion 31 respectively. Then, the rubber portion 31 can be easily replaced.

As shown in FIG. 7, a first fastening device 51 is firmly fixed to the upper end of the supporting rod 2 b mounted on the base portion 1. The first fastening device 51 is made from resilient material such as polymer material, is provided with an expanding slot, and is threaded on the outer peripheral thereof. The total length of the supporting rod 2 can be arbitrarily adjusted and fixed with a second fastening device 52 that is ring shaped, is loosely fit into the supporting rod 2 c, and is threaded on the inner peripheral thereof.

The gripping portion 6 is provided on the upper end of the second supporting rod 2 c. The gripping portion has a nearly round shaped area having a diameter of 5 to 10 cm, suitable for putting a palm thereon, and two protrusions 61 and 62 are formed on the gripping portion 6 so that one group of index, middle, and ring fingers can be placed between the protrusions 61 and 62.

In this embodiment, the height of the supporting rod 2 can be adjusted so that the gripping portion 6 is positioned at an appropriate height, and then, the supporting rod 2 can be fixed with the fastening device 5. Then, the user can also perform physical training in a stable state by using the supporting rod 2 as an assisting tool, as in afore-mentioned embodiment.

On the other hand, if the fastening device 5 is loosed so that the supporting rod 2 c situated on the upper side of the supporting rod 2 can be slide up and down with respect to the other supporting rod 2 b, the user can perform physical training while expanding and contracting as well as rotating the supporting rod 2 c situated on the upper side, as shown in FIG. 2 c. Then, load applied to the supporting rod 2 b due to the physical training by the user can be reduced because the supporting rod 2 c can be slide up and down and can be rotated relatively to the supporting rod 2 b. Therefore, even if the user vigorously performs physical training, load applied to the base portion 1 and coupling member 3 can be reduced.

When the user performs physical training while sliding the supporting rod 2 c up and down as described above, the fastening device 52 may be pulled up along the supporting rod 2 b toward the upper end thereof and an intermediate fastening device 53 of which the cross section is C shaped as shown in FIG. 9 a may be mounted on the supporting rod 2 b at a position below the fastening device 52, thereby preventing the second fastening device 52 from moving upward and downward (FIG. 9 b). Then, if the user slides the supporting rod 2 b toward the supporting rod 2 c, collision of the first and second fastening devices 51 and 52 can be prevented, thereby preventing damage and degradation thereof. The intermediate fastening device 52 may be threaded optionally as needed so that the fastening device 53 can be threaded into the screw on the second fastening device 52.

A concave portion 1 e is formed on the bottom of the base portion. Therefore, the bolt 35 provided on the base portion 1 is housed within the concave portion 1 e when a plurality of base portions are piled up on top of each other. As a result, base portions can be stably stacked together, that is favorable in cases where large number of the tool are used in, for example, a keep-fit class.

In afore-mentioned embodiment, the length of the supporting rod is adjusted by expanding and contracting the supporting rod. A plurality of small pieces 2 c′ having the same diameter as the second supporting rod, for example, approximately 5 cm, may be, however, prepared, and the number of the small pieces 2 c′ may be adjusted that are added to the second supporting rod according to the height of the user, as shown in FIG. 10 a.

As shown in FIG. 10 b, each of the small pieces 2 c′ is configured so that a threaded aperture 2 d′ is formed on an end thereof, a threaded bar 2 e′ with which the threaded aperture 2 d′ can be engaged is formed on the other end. Preferably, an anti-slip O ring and washer are engaged with the threaded bar 2 e′.

A bolt 63 that can threaded into the threaded aperture 2 d′ of the small piece 2 c′ is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the gripping portion 6.

Thus, a threaded aperture can be provided on the upper end of the second supporting rod 2 c so that the threaded bar 2 e′ provided on the small piece 2 c′ can be threaded into the threaded aperture, and the second supporting rod 2 c can be prepared so that the height thereof is appropriate for a user having shorter statures. Then, the length of the second supporting rod 2 c can be altered to be an arbitrary length, by adding small pieces 2 c′ to the second supporting rod 2 c according to the height of the user.

Thus, the user can slide the second supporting rod 2 c up and down more smoothly while performing such physical training as involving sliding of the second supporting rod 2 c.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The exercise assisting tool according to the present invention has simple structure, is inexpensive, and has less occurrence of failure because of a simple mechanism employed therein. A user can preferably use the exercise assisting tool individually to perform such exercise and physical training as stretching and twisting of the body thereof easily and in a stable state.

When a group of users use exercise assisting tools that are designed to be used by a user individually, generally there is risk of contact between them. By using the exercise assisting tool according to the present invention, however, each of the users performs exercise around the base portion thereof, thereby reducing the risk. The exercise assisting tool can be stored in a limited space when it is not used, and the coupling member that may fail can be replaced. Therefore, the exercise assisting tool according to the present invention is especially suitable as an exercise assisting tool used in a group in a school or in a keep-fit class. 

1. An exercise assisting tool comprising: a base portion; a supporting rod that is telescopic in the supporting rod and is rotatable; a coupling member connecting the base portion and the lower end of the supporting rod, and urging the supporting rod in the direction perpendicular to the base portion; and a gripping portion provided on the upper end of the supporting rod having nearly round shaped plain area suitable for gripping therearound and putting a palm thereon.
 2. The exercise assisting tool of claim 1, wherein the supporting rod is telescopic, rotatable, and has a function by which the supporting rod can be fixed at an arbitrary position.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The exercise assisting tool of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is configured so as to be detachably fixed to the base portion and the supporting rod with a securing unit.
 5. The exercise assisting tool of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is configured with a combination of a resilient member and a member that can deform the resilient member and exert resisting force.
 6. The exercise assisting tool of claim 2, wherein the coupling member is configured so as to be detachably fixed to the base portion and the supporting rod with a securing unit.
 7. The exercise assisting tool of claim 2, wherein the coupling member is configured with a combination of a resilient member and a member that can deform the resilient member and exert resisting force. 